Case construction



g 12, 1958 s. HOTCHNER 2,847,100

CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 15, 1956 INVENTOR. SIDNEY HOTCHNEE A 7' TOP/VEVS United States Patent 2,847,100 CASE CONSTRUCTION Sidney Hotchner, San Francisco, Calif. Application May 15, 1956, Serial No. 585,071 3 Claims. (Cl. 190-41) My invention relates to a form of construction for a carrying case, such as a suitcase, a machine case or the like for improving the durability and effectiveness of the carrying case.

In many instances, carrying cases for clothing, for machines such as dictating machines and for other purposes are constructed of relatively smooth material such as aluminum, plastic and glossy leather. Often, they are disposed vertically alongside other similar carrying cases but frequently are carried on their sides on a support such as an automobile seat or the like. The support also is frequently of smooth material such as plastic. Sometimes several cases are piled one on top of the other in similar circumstances so that many smooth surfaces are in contact. Particularly in the case of automobile transport, the smooth cases are likely to slide around and to slip off of each other or off of their support. This is of considerable importance in the instance of clothes carriage and is of great importance where machines and the like are so housed.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a case construction in which the case is not only protected from other comparable cases when it is resting vertically in the usual fashion but is also firmly established in position when it is mounted horizontally on a carrying support.

Another object of my invention is, in general, to improve case construction.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are set forth in the accompanying description and are attained in the embodiment of the invention set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:

, Figure 1 is a perspective of a case construction in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a case construction in accordance with my invention, thecase being in horizontal position on a supporting surface.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the case construction showing the case in vertical position between adjacent cases.

Figure 4 is a detailed cross section the plane of which is indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The case construction of my invention is especially concerned with a carrying case 6 of generally standard construction having a bottom portion 7 and a top portion 8 both of generally rectangular configuration and provided with the customary carrying handle 9 and lock fasteners 11 and 12. The sections 7 and 8 are normally of smooth finished aluminum, of fiberglass, of smooth plastic, of leather or of comparable material presenting an almost frictionless, slippery surface.

Preferably, in accordance with my invention, I provide one side surface 13 of the top portion 8 with a pad 14 of soft, slide resistant material. If desired, the side surface 13 can be indented or depressed to form an appropriately shaped panel to receive and partly confine the pad 14. Preferably, the slide resistant material is either natural or synthetic rubber or comparable rubber-like highly yielding, resilient plastic available in sheet form. Preferably, on its exterior surface the pad is provided with a number of corrugations 16 or other projecting irregularities, whereas its interior or nether surface 17 is conveniently substantially planar. The pad 14 is usually made of a rectangular outline and is somewhat less in area than the projected area of the cover 8, yet covers a major portion thereof to leave a relatively narrow surrounding marginal area 18. Preferably, the pad 14 is aflixed to the planar side 13 by an adhesive such as the layer 19 (Figure 4) of the adhesive between the rubberlike pad and the material of the case itself. Often, although not essentially, the other or opposite planar side 21, parallel to the side surface 13, is also provided in a flush or indented portion with an exactly similar pad 22 fastened in the same way.

, When a case constructed in accordance with the invention is stacked between adjacent cases, such as 23 and 24, on a supporting surface 26, the case 6 is well protected by the rubber pads against the adjacent cases and is prevented from becoming damaged or scarred. The corrugations 16 flex or yield slightly and serve especially to absorb impact shocks. More particularly, however, when the case 6 is mounted on a surface such as 28 (representing the slick or smooth surface of an automobile seat or luggage support) the pad 22 serves not only as a shock absorber but also as an anti-friction member to prevent the case 6 from sliding. The corrugations 16 deflect or deform slightly under the weight of the case 6 so that they act extremely well as anti-skid or frictional gripping members. Thus, the case itself, is protected from external injury and from slipping or sliding or shifting or chafing one of the adjacent other cases and also is prevented from slipping when it is resting horizontally on a smooth supporting surface.

What is claimed is:

1. A case construction comprising a portable rigid case of relatively smooth material on two opposite, substantially planar sides; and a pad of corrugated, soft rubberlike material adhesively secured to at least one of said sides over the major area thereof and projecting from said case.

2. A case construction comprising a portable rigid case having a substantially planar, exposed side of relatively smooth, slippery material; a pad of soft rubber-like, tenacious material covering the major area of and projecting from said exposed side, and means for securing said pad to said side.

3. A case construction comprising a portable rigid case having a pair of opposite, exposed sides of relatively smooth, slippery material provided with indented panels; and pads of soft, rubber-like material covering said panels and projecting from both of said exposed sides in substantial registry with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,808,034 Gregory June 2, 1931 1,985,558 Alexander Dec. 25, 1934 2,264,552 Ritter Dec. 2, 1941 2,357,037 Wheary Aug. 29, 1944 2,610,715 Plotkin Sept. 16, 1952 

